Former fighters of MNLF needed skills with which to earn a livelihood for themselves and their families. It is told that the 50 members of the Dinas co-op were among the 28,000 ex-combatants who were trained by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program in corn or seaweed production. Taking the advantage of the program the co-op ventured into higher-value aquaculture in and started growing prawns, milkfish and tilapia with technical support from GEM, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.
It is mentioned that the GEM Program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo). According to program manager the local growers and the co-op, which was trained by GEM’s Targeted Commodity Expansion Project in high-value aquaculture production, can now efficiently sort, pack and consolidate their fishpond-grown products. Musa Andi, barangay captain and chairman of the Dinas Minority Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative, says his group harvests an average of 500 kilos of prawn every 15 days from their 100-hectare production area.
Andi informed that previously, the lack of a holding center constrained the cooperative’s capability to maintain the quality of its prawn harvests. The turning point was when the GEM Program, through its Barangay Infrastructure Project, constructed the Dinas facility, which is being used by the community’s aquaculture producers as a holding station and ice storage unit.
Adel Oviedo, GEM team leader for former combatant reintegration, said that the success of the co-op has encouraged others in the community to diversify into higher-value production. It is told that through its Targeted Commodity Expansion Project, the GEM Program is helping MNLF co-ops and other growers in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to increase their domestic out shipments and foreign exports of selected aquaculture and agriculture products.
